The Romance of the Colorado River : $b The Story of its Discovery in 1840, with an Account of the Later Explorations, and with Special Reference to the Voyages of Powell through the Line of the Great Canyons — John Shaqi
The Romance of the Colorado River : $b The Story of its Discovery in 1840, with an Account of the Later Explorations, and with Special Reference to the Voyages of Powell through the Line of the Great CanyonsDellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel
History
The Romance of the Colorado River : $b The Story of its Discovery in 1840, with an Account of the Later Explorations, and with Special Reference to the Voyages of Powell through the Line of the Great Canyons
Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) -- Description and travel; Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) -- Discovery and exploration; Colorado River Valley (Colo.-Mexico) -- Description and travel; Colorado River Valley (Colo.-Mexico) -- Discovery and exploration; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Description and travel; Gran
Alarçon was now more than ever desirous of informing Coronado of his
whereabouts, and tried to persuade some of his men to go to Cibola with
a message, promising fine rewards. Only one, a negro slave, and he with
reluctance, offered to attempt the journey. Alarçon tried to get the
old man to give him guides and provisions, but without success, as the
old man seemed to desire to induce Alarçon to help them fight their
battles with the Cumanas, saying, if he would end this war, he could
have their company to Cibola. Alarçon was determined to go, and sent a
man back to the ships to inform those there of his purpose, but he
changed his mind soon after, concluding to go to the ships himself and
return, leaving there his sick, and rearranging his company. The man
who had been sent to the ships overland was overtaken and brought back
by the natives, but was obliged to remain with them till Alarçon came
up again. The descent from here was made in two and a half days, though
it had taken fifteen to come up. Arriving at the ships all was found to
have gone well except a few minor accidents, and, directing repairs to
be made, Alarçon turned about and started up-river once more, first
calling the whole company together, telling them what he had learned of
Cibola, and that, as Coronado might now have been informed by natives
of his presence, he hoped to find means of reaching him. There was much
objection to this plan, but he proceeded to carry it out, taking all
three boats this time, loaded with “wares of exchange, with corn and
other seeds, with hens and cocks of Castile.” This region he called the
Province of Campanna de la Cruz, and he left orders for the building of
an oratory or chapel to be named the Chapel of Our Lady de la Buena
Guia. The river he called the Rio de Buena Guia (good guidance) from
the motto on the viceroy Mendoza’s coat of arms. It was Tuesday, the
14th of September, when he started, taking with him Nicolas Zamorano,
chief pilot, to record the latitudes. He soon arrived again among the
Quicomas,[4] and then among the Coamas, where he found his man who had
been left behind on the first trip. This man had been so well treated
that he was entirely content to remain till the party should come back
down the river. This was the highest point reached on the first visit.
Everywhere the people were treasuring the crosses which had been given
them, kneeling before them at sunrise. Alarçon kept on up the river
till he “entered between certain very high mountains, through which
this river passeth with a straight channel, and the boats went up
against the stream very hardly for want of men to draw the same.” From
this it may be inferred that the Coamas did not strive with each other
for the privilege of towing the boats of these children of the sun as
those below had done. Now an enchanter from the Cumanas tried to
destroy the party by setting magic reeds in the water on both sides,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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